TURN PAGES by clicking the arrows at the side of the page, or by using the
toolbar.ZOOM IN by clicking anywhere on the page.READ by dragging the page around when zoomed in.ZOOM OUT by clicking anywhere on the page when zoomed in.VISIT web sites or send emails by clicking on hyperlinks.

This photographic selection of the changes to the building currently known as the Fitzroy Inn on the old Hume Highway, Mittagong, span over a period of some 140 years. The building was erected by George Cutter for his wife, Ann, in 1835, who operated the second Kangaroo Inn. The Cutters had previously operated the first Kangaroo Inn on the Old South Road in Mittagong from 1827. The name of the building changed over the years and has had many interesting and colourful occupants reside there. In 1850 it was known as the Fitz Roy Inn, representing the name of Governor Charles Augustus Fitz Roy. In 1875 Henry Edmund Southey, an English schoolmaster, conducted Oaklands School as a boy’s boarding school, and in 1877, purchased the property from Edward Thomas Jones Wrench, an auctioneer, for £3500. At that time, the land size had increased from the Cutter’s original 100 acres to over 600 acres. With income from parents of his students, being some of the wealthiest and influential families in the colony at the time, such as Fairfax, Mort, Tooth, Murray and Osborne, Southey repaid his considerable mortgage and erected a dormitory to house his growing number of boys which, at one time numbered 90. Although Southey’s school prospered and, in 1885, he undertook further financial loans to expand he was forced into insolvency and the school closed. Later Oaklands operated as a guest house, conducted by the Downs family, and is today a restaurant and as well provides accommodation, and has been restored in a magnificent manner by the owners, the Aloi and Lovell families. The primary source material on this fascinating building and its occupants was principally researched at the Department of Lands (formerly the Land Titles Office) in Sydney, indicating the wealth of information that can be gleaned from the study of land titles, mortgages and associated documents. Leah Day and Tim McCartney, historians of Mittagong, are the authors of Mittagong’s Picturesque History and are currently researching the history of the Fitz Roy Iron Works for a future publication, provided the photos and text for this feature, from the Mittagong History Collection. If anyone has photos or information relating to Mittagong’s history to share, Leah may be contacted on 4872 1609 or at leahday@netspace.net.au or 34-36 Murchison Street, Mittagong 2575.  HIGHLANDS MARKETPLACE ...where local history greets the locals Visit the Fitz Roy Iron Works historical site, Winner 2009 Heritage Awards “Conservation over $250,000” category. established in 1848 and now an integral feature of Highlands Marketplace. Located at the eastern end of the underground car park at Highlands Marketplace.      PLUS 30 SPECIALTY STORES  snapshot magazine:snapshot.realviewtechnologies.com 27